114 ANAPHYLAXIS AND ANTI-ANAPHYLAXIS 



Richet, the apotoxin; to Vaughan and Wheeler the 

 toxic group of protein ; to Friedberger the anaphylo- 

 toxin; to Kraus and Biedl a peptonoid substance; to 

 Doerr a complement derivative. 



In our opinion, the anaphylactic poison does not 

 exist. 



Until we gain proof to the contrary, we hold to the 

 first, purely physical conception of anaphylaxis which, 

 we formulated in February, 1907 — that is to say, at 

 the time when there was no theory of anaphylaxis 

 in existence. 



In order to presume nothing as to the nature of the 

 antigen or its antibod}^ we have referred to them 

 under the names of sensibihgen and sensibilisin. 



What takes place at the time of the trial injection ? 

 The newly arrived antigen comes into contact with 

 the already formed sensibiHsin. The effect of their 

 affinity is to produce an intense reaction. Whether 

 this reaction disturbs the equilibrium of certain 

 nerve cells where the combination takes place, or 

 whether the latter is accompanied by the setting free 

 or the absorption of energy, calorific or otherwise, 

 we have presented to us a series of phenomena always 

 the same, and which constitute the anaphylactic 

 shock. 



In adopting this term, our idea was to exclude 

 carefully all idea of intoxication, and to indicate, on 

 the contrary, that, in our opinion, it was simply a 

 case of violent disturbance without the formation of 

 a fresh chemical substance. 



What governs anaphylaxis and anti-anaphylaxis is 

 neither the toxin nor the antitoxin, but, on the one 

 hand, the rate at which the sensibiligen and the 

 sensibilisin come into contact ; and, on the other, the 

 place where they meet, which is probably the nervous 

 system. That is why experiment by the vascular 

 or cerebral method is the most severe of all. For the 



